We all know that washing our hands and getting a flu shot are the best defenses in preventing colds and flu. But in all honesty, people need to be reminded, so you need to communicate. So, communication becomes a top priority in defending the company from the cold and flu season. And you know what they say: the best defense is a good offence.
So, how do we get a good offence? We create a strategy, or a plan of attack, so to speak.
Step 1: Encourage employees to get flu shots. You can’t turn around without being reminded that the swine flu pandemic is nigh; it’s the new apocalypse. Half of your workforce will all be out sick at the same time! Millions of people will die! We should all rush out and get the swine flu vaccine! Well, should that last one become available, it’s probably not a bad idea to get one. But the regular flu shot is important, too, and there are concerns about flu vaccine shortages, so you should get one sooner rather than later.
http://www.findaflushot.com/news_calculator.php lets you calculate the potential cost of the flu to your company. I did a quick calculation on it, and found that the cost of an employer providing flu shots is far less than the cost of lost work days due to employees calling in sick.
No, the seasonal flu vaccine won’t prevent you from contracting H1N1, but it may keep you from getting both the seasonal flu and H1N1 at the same time. For anyone who has had to endure a bout of the flu, I’m sure you don’t even want to imagine having two different flu bugs raging through your system at the same time.
Step 2: Remind employees of the easiest ways to prevent getting sick, such as the proper way to sneeze (into your elbow, not your hand!) and the right way to wash their hands (EVERY time they go to the bathroom, no excuses! Always use soap and water, scrubbing for about 20-30 seconds). Certain fun employee activities may need to be altered: pot lucks are a great way to spread germs. Big bowls of chips where everyone digs in with bare hands? You can guarantee several of those chip-takers have not washed their hands in awhile. Encourage employees to practice sanitary food sharing by making sure that no one touches any food that they aren’t going to consume themselves.
Step 3: Re-communicate your sick policy, which you may want to re-think if you end up with a large number of people coming to work sick. Many health professionals are suggesting that people stay home at the onset of symptoms through 24-48 hours after a fever has broken naturally (no help from acetaminophen or ibuprofen). A lot of companies’ busiest seasons are around this time of year, so many employees may feel that they need to come in. You should be working with your managers to communicate the necessity for those with colds or flu (or any other infectious diseases, like pink eye) to STAY HOME. A few days of resting will get them through their sickness faster, and will also prevent the spread of disease to other employees. Please don’t go this route. Forcing employees to stay home when they’re sick and then punishing them for doing so seems like such a bad idea.
To summarize:
- Encourage employees to get flu shots: Check!
- Remind employees of the easiest ways to prevent getting sick: Check!
- Re-communicate sick policy: Check!
And now we’re ready to tackle the cold and flu season!
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